Wild and Untamed Things Do The Time Warp Again

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 8, 2004 5:20PM

Oh man! Chicagoist is having some major flashbacks today. No, we’re not still feeling the effects of the tequila shots. The trippiness is due to the return to Chicago of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Back in high school, Chicagoist used to sit around at parties with friends and watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show on video since there were no local movie screenings. Geeky, yes, but fun. Due to the recent Star Wars prequels and subsequent media coverage, it barely registers with most people nowadays when they see superfans in costume lined up for a movie. But in the late 1970s when the Rocky Horror phenomenon took off, seeing mobs of people dressed up as characters from a movie was unheard of. Nevermind the audience partici-say it!-pation portions of the show featuring live casts performing along with the characters onscreen. The blueprint for the spread of all future cult classics had been drawn.

Midnight showings of the movie have been sporadic in the city, usually coinciding with Halloween. The Hollywood Blvd. Cinema Bar and Eatery in Woodridge, IL is kicking off their performances this weekend with an appearance by Sal Piro, head of the Rocky Horror International Fan Club. The shows will feature the Completely Crazy cast (that’s not a judgment, that’s their name) as Brad, Janet, Frank-N-Furter, and the rest and will continue throughout the fall and winter culminating in a Rocky Horror New Year’s Eve Ball on December 31st.

Woodridge is kinda BFE so if you need a Rocky fix, the Music Box will have a pair of midnight Halloween shows on October 29th and 30th where the Midnight Madness group will be performing. The official Rocky Horror site features a prop list and some FAQs so you can avoid being pegged as a “virgin.” Don't dream it, be it!